Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Ireland moves closer to forming a new government after a deal is reached

Ireland has moved a step closer to forming a new government

Via AP news wire
Tuesday 14 January 2025 19:35 GMT
Ireland Election
Ireland Election (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Ireland moved a step closer Tuesday to forming a new government.

A deal was reached between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Regional Independent Group to form the next government a month and a half after the election gave no party a majority of seats needed to control parliament, Irish media reported.

Party members will have to ratify the decision in the coming days. A new parliament is due to meet Jan. 22.

In the November election, Fianna Fail had won 48 seats of the 174 legislative seats and Fine Gael had 38. The two center-right parties, who have governed in coalition since 2020, fell just short of the 88 needed to achieve a majority without third-party support.

Left-of-center party Sinn Fein won 39 seats in the Dail, the lower house, but Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have refused to work with them because of their historic ties with the Irish Republican Army during three decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin is likely to be the next taoiseach, or prime minister, a position he held in the first half of the last government. Simon Harris, the Fine Gael leader, is currently prime minister.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are longtime rivals with origins on opposing sides of Ireland’s 1920s civil war. They formed an alliance after the 2020 election ended in a virtual dead heat.

Under the agreement reached Tuesday, two members of the mostly conservative Regional Independent Group will be given super junior ministerial positions.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in